BITS and PIECES
279th Edition – January 25, 2026
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER
The old statement is true. Whenever we see a house, a car, a watch or whatever, we know that behind that production lies designers and makers. Things just do not happen by chance.
It is a bold and sadly mistaken view that postulates there is no design in this world, when every blade of grass, insect, animal, and human shows the intricacies of design.
The three-pound human brain is the most orderly and complex arrangement of matter known to man in the universe. With its twelve billion cells forming about 120 trillion electrical connections, all inter- connected by 100,000 miles of fibres, it is a marvel of God’s creative genius.
The Psalmist was right when he said,
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” [Psalm 139:14].
How sad when intelligent people use their God-given brain to try and disprove the existence of its Creator.
“The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God” [Psalm 14:1].
THE PSALM AND THE SHEPHERD
Some years ago, at a drawing room function, one of England’s leading actors was asked to recite for the pleasure of his fellow guests.
He consented and asked if there was anything special his fellow guests would like to hear. After a moment’s pause, an aged clergyman rose and said, “Could you, sir, recite to us the Twentieth-third Psalm?
A strange look passed over the great actor’s face. He paused for a moment and then said, “I can, and I will upon one condition, and that is after I have recited it, you, my friend, will do the same.”
Impressively, the great actor began the Psalm. His voice and his intonation were perfect. He held his audience spellbound, and, as he finished, a great burst of applause broke from the guests.
Then, as it died away, the aged clergyman arose and began to recite. His voice was not remarkable; his intonation was not flawless. When he finished, no sound of applause broke the silence, but there was not a dry eye in the room, and many heads and hearts were bowed in reverential awe!
The great actor rose to his feet again. His voice shook with uncontrollable emotion as he laid his hand upon the shoulder of the aged clergyman, and said to his audience, “I have reached your eyes and ears, my friends. This man reached your hearts. The difference is just this – I know the Twenty-third Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.” [Author Unknown]
MAMMOTH MANNA MIRACLE
Most Christians are familiar with the miracle where God provided manna for the children of Israel to eat shortly after their exodus from Egypt [Exodus 16]. But how many are aware of the magnitude of the miracle?
According to scripture, there were “about six hundred thousand that were men, beside children” [Exodus 12:37]. Add the women and children plus “a mixed multitude.” Taken together, those that were in the exodus must have numbered about two million people.
The Lord provided manna “an omer for every man.” An omer is about six pints. That means they gathered about twelve million pints of manna per day, or 3,348 tons! No small miracle!
However, the Lord provided this for the forty years in the wilderness and the manna supply did not stop until they entered the promised land [Joshua 5:12]. The total amount of manna provided over the forty years was therefore a staggering 175,200 million pints, or almost 50 million tons.
To put things into perspective, let us not forget the present day, where the Lord supplies our need. There are about eight billion people on earth and every day He supplies air for us to breathe, food for us to eat, and water for us to drink.
Thank God for His miraculous provision, physical, mental and spiritual. Do not “Forget all His benefits” [Psalm 103:2].
“My God shall provide all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” [Phil. 4:19].
AN IDLE MAN. “An idle man makes himself a very good target for the devil, and the devil is a very good shot” [C. H. Spurgeon].
